What to Research First: Best Research Order

Researching Ideas is a vital part of progressing your City in Frostpunk 2. Learn about which Ideas to research first to maximize efficiency!

Best Ideas to Research First

To Address City Problems

Hunger: Hothouses

In the Resources category of the Idea Tree, you can directly access the Idea for Hothouses, which can provide 50-70 Food output. Afterwards, you will gain access to Advanced Hothouses which would provide 80-120 Food output.

Disease: Hospitals

Hospitals are immediately accessible in the Society category. Whichever Hospital you choose, they all slightly decrease Disease and regularly cure Sick Absentees. Past Hospitals are Treatment Ideas, and even further along this branch are the Pharmaceuticals Ideas, which marginally and significantly decrease Disease respectively.

Cold: Housing Insulation

In the Heating category, you can directly access Housing Insulation Ideas, which decreases the Base Heat demand of Housing Districts. After Housing Insulation, you will also unlock Ideas for Heat Dispatcher and Food Energy Efficiency which may further decrease Heat demand for all Districts.

Cold: Waste Heat Conversion

On the other hand, in the Resources category, you can get Heat Cycling Idea in the Waste Heat Conversion branch, which decreases Heat Demand in Housing Districts. Waste Heat Conversion is accessible after the Worker Shifts branch.

Crime: Watchtowers

Watchtowers are directly accessible in the Society category. All Watchtowers slightly decreases Crime and unlocks the 'Random Searches' District Ability, which further decreases Crime, at the expense of slightly increasing Tension. Prisons are unlocked after Watchtowers, which decreases Crime even more.

Squalor: Filtration Towers

In the Resources category, you can directly access Filtration Towers Ideas, which all decrease Squalor. The Waste Collection Management branch is accessible after, which decreases Squalor by a much higher amount.

Squalor: Maintenance Duty

Another branch that decreases Squalor is Maintenance Duty, which can be found in the City category. All Ideas in this branch decreases Materials Demand, which also affects Squalor.

Frostlands: Scouts' Headquarters

Scouts' Headquarters are immediately accessible in the Frostland category. These Ideas decrease both Exploration Time and Territory Threat. After Scouts' Headquarters, you can access the Scout Training branch, which may either further decrease Exploration Time or Territory Threat.

Population Shortage: Relationships

In the Society category, you can find the Relationships Ideas there, which increases the Population Growth of the City. To get there, you would need to first go through the Youth branch, then pass through the Parenthood branch.

Workforce Shortage: Youth

The Youth branch can be found in the Society category. The Youth Ideas all unlock District Abilities that increases the City's Workforce. The Dutiful Youth Idea in particular can increase the percentage of Active Workers.

Heatstamps Shortage: Alcohol

In the City category, you can find the Alcohol branch after Work Compensation. The City-Run Alcohol Shops Idea in particular significantly increases the Heatstamps Income per capita for the City.

Prefabs and Goods Shortage: Factories

The Factories branch is directly accessible in the Resources category. All Factories produce around 8-10 Prefabs and 30-40 Goods. The branches after Factories are Goods Factories and Prefabs Factories, which produce 60 Goods output and 15-20 Prefabs respectively.

Shelter Shortage: Housing Block

In the City category, you can directly access the Housing Block branch, whose Ideas can supply 10-25 Shelter. Following after the Housing Block branch are the Housing Distribution and Workers' Housing branches. Both of which provide Ideas that increase Shelter.

Frostpunk 2 Related Guides

A Beginner's Guide to Frostpunk 2

All Tips and Tricks